Editorial

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Board of Management of SCHOTT AG.

Dear readers,

They say that the term sustainability was actually first used in the forestry industry about 300 years ago. Back then, progressive industry representatives spoke out in favor of cutting down only as many trees as could be replaced once again through planned reforestation. Today, the idea of creating a natural balance has become a symbol for the sustainable development of mankind. SCHOTT works hard to actively promote this holistic view of sustainability. For example, we developed a new melting technology that helped us become the first company in the world to manufacture a black cooktop panel without having to add arsenic or antimony. This not only allowed SCHOTT CERAN® to win the German Innovation Award 2010, but also to make the list of the top 3 sustainable products with respect to the German Sustainability Award 2011. And we also served as a sponsor of the inter­national ”Chef of the Year” 2011 competition in which environmental protection also played an important role.

For SCHOTT, sustainability also has a lot to do with social responsibility. For this reason, we work together with companies and politicians and support projects like the one in Kenya, for instance, that is aimed at making solar energy a sustainable way to produce electricity in Africa in an environmentally and climate friendly manner. Achieving sustainable progress in the area of healthcare is also an important topic for us. In accordance with the Russian government’s program aimed at providing better healthcare to the population and encouraging the manufacturing of innovative medications, we opened a production facility for ampoules and vials in Zavolzhe with the aim of introducing international standards for pharmaceutical manufacturing in Russia. Attending to people’s well-being is also our goal when it comes to the creative lighting solutions we provide to hospitals and other medical institutions.

We view all of these projects as opportunities to act in a sustainable manner and thus bring our economic, ecological and social interests into balance. Only then will we be able to create an intact basis for the future for both ourselves and our children and improve the quality of people’s lives.